In recently thrilling footage, the largest World War II bomb ever discovered in Poland has exploded during an attempt by navy divers to defuse it.
The astonishing detonation of the enormous ordnance underwater has left experts and the public concerned about the potential dangers of unexploded munitions from the war.
Despite the diligent efforts of naval bomb disposal experts to disarm the massive explosive, they were faced with a dangerous predicament as the bomb exploded unexpectedly, putting them in a dangerous situation.
The bomb, known as a 'Tallboy' bomb, weighed approximately 5.4 tons.
It had been resting underwater in a waterway near the post of Szczecin in northwest Poland since September 2019.
Even though almost eight decades have passed since the end of the war, Eastern Europe still bears the remnants of unexploded ordnance, serving as haunting reminders of the fierce conflict between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
On Tuesday, October 14, 2020, navy demolition experts embarked on a mission to neutralize the bomb.
The enormous explosive contained roughly 2,400 kilograms of explosives, which posed a significant threat.
However, during the defusing process, an unexpected detonation occurred, resulting in a massive explosion.
Thankfully, Lieutenant Commander Grzegorz Lewandowski, a Navy spokesperson, confirmed that no one was injured in the incident.
Divers had maintained a safe distance from the bomb as they attempted to defuse it remotely through deflagration, a process that burns the explosive charge without causing a detonation.
To safeguard the well-being of residents in the vicinity, authorities evacuated over 750 residents from the area surrounding the Piast Canal, situated outside the town of Swinoujscie.
The precautionary measure aimed to protect people from potential harm and ensure their safety during the operation.
Authorities implemented a 2.4-kilometer exclusion zone around the bomb to prevent any potential harm.
Lt. Cmdr. Lewandowski stated that the deflagration process unexpectedly transformed into a detonation. However, he reassured that the bomb was now considered neutralized and no longer posed a threat to the Szczecin-Swinoujscie shipping channel.
All divers were fortunately situated outside the danger zone during the explosion.
The blast was powerful enough to be felt by residents in Swinoujscie, which had been part of Germany when the Royal Air Force dropped the bomb in 1945 during a raid that sank the Lützow warship.
Before the detonation mission, Lt. Cmdr. Lewandowski emphasized the exceptional nature of the mission, labeling it a 'world first.'
He highlighted the unique preservation of the Tallboy bomb and its underwater location, making it an unprecedented challenge to defuse.
